Do You Believe In Karma?

Do you believe in Karma? Do you know what it is? I bet you don't. Most people think that karma is kind of a judgment against people who do something bad. Kind of like payback. Kind of a cause-effect relationship for how we live our lives. That is NOT what karma is.

 

Karma is a Hindu / Buddhist belief that says if we live our current lives good enough, our next life will be better. The converse is also true for those who believe in "bad" karma. If we live our present lives badly we will come back in our next life in a worse condition.

 

Karma's main tenant is reincarnation. If you walk down the street and ask "Do you believe in karma?" many people will answer "yes." Ask the same people if they are Hindu's or Buddhists and most of those same people will answer "no."

 

The present day definition of karma has changed from what it used to be, all predicated on an incorrect belief about what it actually is.

 

Many Christians believe in the newer definition of karma, which begs the question, are they really Christians? Karma clashes with the teachings of Jesus. Although there are verses talking about "sowing and reaping," Christianity is based on faith, not works, not on the things we do.

 

So why do people believe that karma will get someone? They talk as if karma it a thing or a person or some sort of moral police force to keep everyone in line by punishing bad behavior and rewarding good. Isn't that what Christianity teaches? No!

 

The Gospel that Jesus preached tells us that we are ALL inherently bad.

“None is righteous, no, not one;" - Romans 3:10

 

With none of us good enough to get into heaven and there is no amount of good karma that's going to get us there, what's the point? The whole point, my friends, is Jesus!

 

Through faith in Christ we no longer have to worry about being "good enough." We don't have to concern ourselves with someone getting what they deserve. If that were the case, and you and I got what WE deserve? Yeah. Thank God for His precious gift of salvation. We can attain His promise of eternal life, not reincarnation, simply by believing Jesus was who He said He was, the Song of God, and that His sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins, making us pure and holy in God's eyes, through that faith.

 

"6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:6-10

 

What Does The Bible Say About Karma? - GotQuestions.org

Focus

Trying to write a story for my blog during a Packer game is not the easiest thing to do, nor the smartest. It seems like just as I get an idea or a thought about what to write I get distracted, lose my focus, and end up watching the game.

If I were sitting here all by myself, the decision about what to do would be easy. I'd turn off the television and focus on the task at hand - writing. But I am sitting here with my wife - the Packer fan in the house. She is also a God-honoring recipient of my attention. What to do? That's easy. I spend time with my wife. And I type when I can. I'll be back later . . .

Jeopardy Theme

There, the game is over. My wife is ironing. We have eaten dinner. The Packers are 6-0. Life is good. Now what was I writing about? Oh, yeah . . . . staying focused. Oops.

This world we live in has so many things that distract us from God. I personally cannot go through a single day without something distracting me from reading my Bible . . . which I haven't done for two whole days now! Yard work, taking walks with my wife, those are a few GOOD distractions but there are other things that distract us more sinful ways. Television, movies, shopping, reading (books other than the bible). I struggle devoting enough time to God in my daily life and that bothers me. God should be my number one priority and so often God gets brushed aside in our lives. It should NOT be that way. It CANNOT be that way.

It is so hard to get this world we live in out of our lives. We are saturated by it. It is everywhere. It sticks to us as we walk through it and we simply cannot get rid of it.

Whoa. That's not exactly right. We CAN get rid of it, at least the power it has over us. We cannot get rid of it on our own but Jesus can help us loosen the chains by freeing us from sin. Thank God for Jesus!!!

If we think of who were are, who we were before placing our faith in Christ, there is really no need for despair. We have been chosen, hand-picked by God, to be one of His children. Yeah, we're misfits, broken, failures at being perfect. But guess what . . . :)

There is power in the name of Jesus. He heals the sick, He raises the dead, He can make the blind see and the lame walk. There is no other name by which we are saved! So rejoice!! Place your hope in Jesus. Keep your focus on the finish line and not on the crowd. Finish the race!

"When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” - Matthew 11:1-6

Name Of Jesus - Chris Tomlin

Ain't Nothin' Free

Maybe it's my amazingly keen discernment capabilities, or more likely the fact that my age is approaching that of Moses, but I have noticed a few things happening in our country that have never happened before. And it disturbs me.

Our position in the world for one. We used to be the most powerful, respected nation on the planet. Not so much anymore. We also used to be a wholesome, clean-cut nation. Now we tend to do whatever we want WITH whom ever we want, wherever we want to. We also used to be a God-fearing nation . . . a Christian nation. And now? Well, let's hear it from our president . . .

We Are No Longer A Christian Nation - President Barack Obama

Did you watch the Democratic debate? Yeah, me neither. Even without seeing it I am amazed at Bernie Sanders, a socialist, and the percentage of backers he is getting. The latest poll shows him with nearly 25% of the crowd in his favor!

Ever hear of a man named Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn? He was a persecuted Christian convert from Russia who spoke out against socialism. Read this from an article in The Imaginative Conservative.

"Born in Russia in 1918, only months after the secular fundamentalists had swept to power in the Bolshevik Revolution, Solzhenitsyn was brainwashed by a state education system which taught him that socialism was just and that religion was the enemy of the people. Like most of his school friends, he enslaved himself to the zeitgeist, became an atheist and joined the communist party."

That's just about where we're at as a country right now. But there is still hope. Later in the article . . .

"While in prison, he resolved to expose the horrors of the Soviet system. Shortly after his release, during a period of compulsory exile in Kazakhstan, he was diagnosed with a malignant cancer in its advanced stages and was not expected to live. In the face of what appeared to be impending death, he converted to Christianity and was astonished by what he considered to be a miraculous recovery."

Here's a guy who found faith in Christ that lived under both socialism and communism, denounced both, and now here WE are as a nation, embracing that same socialism more and more. I find this amazing and saddening. It reminds me of when Joshua lead the Israelites into the promised land. God directed His people to build a monument so they wouldn't forget what God had done for them. But then . . . guess what . . . they forgot. And so have we.

The "monument" that reminded us about what God did for a people was these United States. We have forgotten whose we are as a nation and become a people who have turned to ourselves for help instead of turning to God.

Solzhenitsyn not only faced cancer and won but he also faced socialism and communism and persevered. We need to learn from men like Solzhenitsyn, not only in our politics but also in our faith lives. We need to stand up and fight instead of tolerating and acquiescing. We need to seek God above all else. He is still on His thrown. That's something we need to remember as we watch the future come at us.

It has been said that those who do not remember the past are bound to repeat it. And so we have . . . and so we shall.

"21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” - Joshua 4:21-24

Alexsandr Solzheniysyn: The Courage To Be Christian

"What Is Thy Bidding, My Master?"

As we learn and grow in our faith there comes a time when we are required to make some rather difficult decisions. In order to make those decisions we often have to extricate ourselves from the entire decision making process and really focus on what is right . . . in God's eyes.

I have made a few of those decisions in my life. Perhaps you have too. Experience tells us that, when we make the wrong decision, we end up going over and over things in our mind - not only doubting our decision but doubting ourselves in the process. When we make God-honoring decisions however, decisions that are right in God's eyes, the doubt seems to be absent more times than not. There is no second guessing our thought process when we have excluded ourselves from it and deferred to the will of God.

"This is what God would have us do," we say. And that is how all of our decisions should be made. The only problem is, we seldom say that. We seldom think that. We seldom even bring God into the conversation, let alone the decision making process. And that . . . is where . . . we fail.

If I might borrow a line from another repentant sinner, Darth Vader, we should be more like him in our prayers, asking God, "What is thy bidding , my master?" Oh, if we were only to ask that question more often than we do.

What Is Thy Bidding, My Master? - Darth Vader

Too often our prayers sound like someone who is reading a honey-do list rather than a humble servant begging for consideration from Almighty God. I am guilty of this very thing. Feeling pressed for time I often offer up requests in rapid fire succession. No more. I need to take the time I need . . . no, I need to take the time GOD needs, to hear an appropriate prayer. Not a fast-food, instantaneous one.

One of my favorite prayers, an example of what I should be praying, can be found in the movie Bruce Almighty. As you listen to it, notice the sincerity of heart and the reply God gave to the kind of prayer He seeks from each of us.

Now That's A Prayer - Bruce Almighty

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out." - Deuteronomy 28:1-6

The promises of our God to His people, Israel.

Broken? Betrayed? Abandoned? - Is This You?

There are days when I feel like nothing is going my way. Do you ever feel like that? We get frustrated with life and we feel like the whole world has left us behind. If that is you, take heart. There are people in this world who are going through far worse things than us.

I don't mean to be mean, but there is definitely a tendency, no, a desire, deep within us to have the world to take pity on us and our current situation . . . whatever it is. We have a need, I think, to be significant or noticed in some way, so we can find some meaning in our lives. Social media has got to be the number one place where people unload all their built up drama and put on display everything "we" find important. Do you know what that's called? Jesus spoke against it many times in His teachings. It's called pride.

"3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3

There is a story in the Old Testament book of Genesis that speaks about someone who was REALLY oppressed. High school drama pails compared to what THIS guy went through. Instead there was hatred, attempted murder, abandonment, being sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison. How do those things compare to your common everyday high school drama? This is the story of Joseph.

"3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him." - Genesis 37:3-4

If you are discouraged lately or feeling betrayed, persecuted and alone, there is great encouragement we can take from the example of Joseph's life. The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) is one that is filled with lies, deceit, hatred and betrayal. But is also filled with encouragement, honor, justice and mercy. And incredible, unconditional love. If one looks closely and meditates of this story and its meaning, it is easy to see a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Christ, in Joseph. I encourage you to read it.

A friend of mine was telling me about a song he was playing repeatedly. The lyrics seemed to fit the story of Joseph. What do YOU think?

"Surrender"

I am tired

I am broken

Unsure at every turn

Though You told me where to go

I lost the road

Been a while since I have heard You

And doubts are creeping in

How can I continue walking on my own?

I need to know you’re here

With me

Cause I become a desperate soul

When Your unfailing love feels far

I need to know You won’t let go

Through it all

You can have my broken heart

Everything that’s left in me

And I will surrender

Surrender, surrender

Your promises feel distant

Though I’ve followed them this far

What is there left to hold on to

When You’re gone?

And it’s hard to keep on breathing

As the question tears my heart

What if I am left to fight this on my own?

I’ve seen the way You love me

I’ve heard the things You say

I’ve felt the way You held me in Your arms

Surrender - Nine Lashes

My Cup Runneth Over

Want to have some fun? There is something you can do to others that will immediately cause them to slow their pace. It will totally change someone's focus. It even has the power to shift the eyes of a teen away from their phone! Wow! What is it?

Fill their coffee cup right to the brim and have them walk across the living room carpet! Ha ha!

"5 My cup runneth over." - Psalm 23:5

Walking with an extremely full cup of hot coffee changes a lot of things. How we walk. Especially over white carpeting! It causes us to slow down. After all, we might spill hot coffee all over us, or the rug. Or both! That would be bad. I'm surprised the government hasn't required warning labels on all coffee cups! Even taking a sip of super-hot coffee causes us to be extra cautious and to take a tiny sip at first.

Hot coffee is HOT! Just ask McDonald's who lost a law suit because they didn't have a warning label on their cups telling people that their hot coffee was . . . hot. We humans can be really dumb. We need warning labels on just about everything we come in contact with. Remember the mirror on the Jeep in Jurassic Park? I rest my case.

It's too bad life doesn't come with warning labels.

What if people came with warning labels? Would you treat them any differently? What would YOUR warning label say?

"Warning: This person will break your heart one day."

"Danger: One more doughnut and the button on your pants will explode."

"Caution: What you are about to eat will make you spend the next 24 hours in the bathroom."

Mine would read, "Beware: Writer. This man enjoys boring other people with his stories. Can cause drowsiness."

Yeah. We never seem to know when life throws us those little curve balls that change our lives forever. Those sudden things that get our attention and make us wish we had done something earlier to change the outcome. Maybe I should have poured my coffee in a bigger cup . . . or not filled my cup so high. Maybe I should have invested more time in my children and told them I love them more often than I did so they wouldn't be on probation right now.

There is a book you can buy that is absolutely FILLED with life's warning labels - those little bits of advice to help you make it through this life. It's called The Bible. Here's a few warning labels that will change the way YOU walk in this world, with or without coffee in your hand.

"2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:2

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." - Ephesians 5:6

"You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth." - Deuteronomy 6:14-15

Those are definitely some warnings to heed!

The thing about God I really like is that, despite all the warnings, God loves us. That is why He gives us warnings. Sadly, we often chose to ignore those warnings and . . . we end up staining our once-white carpeting. And only Jesus can get THAT stain out.

Woman Burned By McDonald's Coffee - The New York Times

Two-Dimensional Thinking

My wife and I are currently logging all of our radio activity for the Nielsen Radio Ratings company. We're getting paid $10 for logging time and duration of out listening activity. Why anyone would want to know what we listen to and when is beyond me but SOMEBODY wants to know.

And it's not just rating companies. EVERYONE wants to know what we think, what we like, what we're interested in. That's why Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pintrest are so popular. Not only do people wonder what we think, we also love telling them!

Why do we care what other people think? Why does it matter so much. It's as if out human interactions are more important than our relationship with God. He doesn't care what we look like, if we wear the right clothes or have a good complexion. God cares about our souls. Shouldn't we?

I think we spend far too much time thinking "horizontally" instead of "vertically" . . . thinking about God. Try observing your interactions with humans today. How many people are thinking about themselves or their appearance? How many are thinking of themselves? How many are thinking about money? Compare that to how many people are thinking about God in your Facebook news feed.

I conducted a survey of my own today. I scrolled down through Facebook and took a quick survey or people's posts - God vs. man. Here are my results. 75 posts about man, 5 posts about God. Of those five posts about God four were from pages I like. They were not posted by "people." Only one Facebook post offered something about God. Thanks Allex!

Why don't we think more about God than we do? I think it's because we can't see Him and because none of us can totally understand who He is. We think two dimensionally because that's is the world we live in for the most part. Thinking vertically requires faith and we tend to believe in only what we can see. One day we WILL see Him, whether we want to or not.

"10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." - 2 Corinthians 5:10

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth" - Psalm 121:1-2


"Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. 3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud. my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord,Who made heaven and earth" - Psalm 123

Think Vertical!!

Two-Dimensional Thinking - Star Trek

Love Letters

[Please, click this link first, then begin reading this blog. Thank you.]

These Honored Dead - Luke Richards

When someone we love dies their memory can remain with us for quite some time. We never really get over the loss of someone who was such an important part of us. It seems as if they are still with us in many ways - through our memories, through old photographs . . . and though letters. Oh, to have letters, written by the very hand of the person we love . . . the person we have lost.

I remember reading love letters from my girlfriend as a young man in college. I would read them and re-read them dozens of times. The words were a part of her . . . and she sent that part of herself . . . to me. I loved receiving them and reading them over and over again. Those letters helped ease the pain and anguish in my heart caused by the distance between us.

These days people don't write many letters any more. They tend to send instant messages or e-mails. The personal-ness, the meaningfulness of the written word is being lost to a generation that has grown up entirely without it. They are not even aware they are missing anything. Perhaps that is why so many young people find it hard to read their Bibles these days. Not enough interaction perhaps. No smilie faces or emoticons. A sad an tragic loss not to read the letters of someone who loves them so much.

I'd like you to read a very special love letter written to especially for each of us . . . 2,000 years ago.


A Father's Love Letter

As you could tell by all of the Bible verses used, the person who wrote those love letters loves you very much. Perhaps, if you are willing, you might consider writing Him a love letter . . . with your heart. He would love to hear from you. He will read your letter over and over again.

P.S. - He loves you.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." - Proverbs 3:3-4

[Please share this message with others and help spread the Gospel wherever you are. Thank you.]

The Tale of The Woolly Bear

The days are getting colder now. Even if you don't have a thermometer it is easy to tell based on the signs we can observe in nature. Tree leaves are beginning to turn colors, there is frost on the grass in our yards and there are woolly bears wiggling across our sidewalks.

Woolly Bears are interesting things. When we see them they are usually on their way to "somewhere" with great determination. They are on a mission!

Have you ever picked up a woolly bear caterpillar? If you have then you know what they do. They roll up into a little ball. Why do you think that is? Here is my theory. God gave them a desire and a means to protect themselves. When they feel threatened they curl up so all of their bristles are pointing out. It's their defense mechanism.

If you hold a woolly bear in your hand and are really still, they will begin walking again, trying to find their way to that distant destination. What a perfect example of Christian behavior.

The Christian is on a quest in this world. To make it through to their ultimate destination - Jesus. When Satan tries to distract us or cause us to deviate from our journey we must curl up and protect ourselves. Once he has moved on we can begin our journey again.

We live in this world that is run by Satan. He flies trough it using any means he can to distract us from our ultimate destination - God.

"2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (that's us), 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." - Ephesians 2:2-3

Just like the woolly bear, there are many of us who become totally lost or die on their journey. It's a sad thing to see. There are many temptations to distract us. But success awaits those of us who "bristle" at these things of the world. We cast off the sins that long to entrap us or devour us. When the danger or struggle has passed, we must return to the task of reaching our destination. Our whole purpose in this life is to complete the journey. To "earn our wings" so to speak and to arrive at the promised land.

" 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." - 2 Timothy 4:7-8

A Woolly Bear's Journey To Become A Moth

WTSHTF

I think perhaps it might be time to talk a little bit about a seldom preached about chapter of the Bible - Romans 1. The chapter starts out friendly enough but then Paul gets down to business pretty quickly and tells the truth about sin, evil and just where it is we will be going if we don't change our wicked ways.

These days most churches like to deliver feel-good messages. They feel, "the flock must be happy so they can shine the light of Jesus" . . . and so they will continue to give financially and continue to come regularly. But is that what churches are supposed to be about? Feel-goodism? I think not. Let's read a few lines of Romans 1 and see what the Apostle Paul has to say to the Christians in Rome.

After Paul greets the Christians in Rome he expresses his desire to visit Rome. But then . . . by the time verse 18 rolls around Paul's tone has changed - dramatically! Paul dishes it out pretty severely to a church that he greeted warmly just a few lines before. Try this on for warmth and fuzziness. It's not going to fit.

"18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." - Romans 1:18

It gets worse. Finally in 28 Paul is REALLY rolling. And although Paul is writing to his brothers and sisters in Rome, he might as well be addressing the American people. These days we sound just like what Paul is describing.

"28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." - Romans 1:28-32

Quite the attack! But nearly 100% accurate if you ask me if you look at the world in which we live today. And as we'll find out later in Romans 6, "the wages of sin is death."

There are many who feel we are in the last days before the return of Jesus. I am one of them. The signs are everywhere! Christianity is fading in this country and it shows no signs of turning around. We need to repent and turn back to God or we will surely die as the Bible says.

Alright. Enough "reality." Time for some encouragement. If you would skip ahead a bit and land in the Book of 1st Corinthians you can read Paul's letter to a church who had already begun to go through the same disobedience to God as the Roman church was experiencing. Once again, Paul is reprimanding the Christian church, the sexually immoral, drunkards and idolaters this time, to name a few. But then he offers this reminder to the church in Corinth. Words we need to remember today, especially if we are Christians. And especially if we are in need of repentance. Verse 11.

"11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

When Jesus returns and raptures His church, soon after things are going to get ugly for those who have been left behind. "When the sh . . . when the "stuff" hits the fan (WTSHTF) you do NOT want to be anything other that a believer in Christ.

We have all been offered a priceless gift. A gift that will spare us from the coming wrath. Why aren't more people accepting it? In my opinion, it's because they are too busy enjoying themselves and the life they are living. There's no sign, at least in their minds, that things are going bad. Why should they change?

Reading The Bible is the single best thing you could do, short of placing your faith in Christ immediately. Read it. Investigate it. Ask questions of others knowledgeable in The Word. It stands as a testimony. Though many have tried to break it, it stands to this very day. I thank God for His words to us and His unfailing love and mercy. We ARE a generation, stiff-necked and forever wandering. It's time to go home. Where we belong. :)

"16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" - Romans 1:16

We Believe - Newsboys

What Would You Tell Me?

I saw something on Facebook the other day that made me stop and think for a moment. It was one of those meme things - a picture with some words written on it. It read, "What would you tell me if I lost my memory." Interesting question. Interesting scenario.

As I thought about it I began to see the question posed as a real test of character. And the answer greatly depends on who the person is who lost their memory, and what they mean to those who try to answer.

Imagine that one of your friends lost their memory. What would you tell them? Would you tell them the truth, both good and bad? Or would you try to protect them from certain memories so they wouldn't have to live through those memories again? Would you filter the truth?

Here's another question, perhaps a little more tricky than the last. Do you have a friend who you wish could lose some of their memories? I do. I think they'd like to lose so of those memories as well. But we can't do that. We can lift them up in  prayer though.

The purpose of this story is to get us thinking about others and the role we play in other people's lives. Have you lived your life so you are a pleasant memory? Or and the Bible puts it, "A pleasing aroma to God."

"Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good." - Psalm 25:7

Today, love somebody just a little bit more than you usually do. Seek out those who are hurting. Comfort them with the same love that our savior has shown to us. Use His love for you to create a lasting memory in the mind a heart of someone else. Help someone forget their bad memories by replacing them with good ones through the love of Christ.

"8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:8-12

East To West - Casting Crowns

Everything To Lose

Gone are the days when I drove into work looking into the beauty of one of God's amazing sunrises. At least for this year. These days my morning commute is in total darkness - a reminder of the coming winter. The cold. The darkness.

Yesterday morning I decided to drop in on of my mix CD's to brighten my mood. A couple of songs played and then This Is Your Life by Switchfoot came on. I like the intro so I had the volume cranked and soon I was signing as I drove.

Part way through the song I heard some words that found new meaning for me that morning. As I thought about them I realized, with sudden gratitude, just how blessed I am . . . how blessed we are to be called by God to be his children and heirs to His kingdom.

When we humans are young in years we think ourselves invincible. Nothing can harm us! Our whole future is before us! We are on top of the world!! Then the future arrives and we find ourselves unprepared. We are not ready for life. We're like a lonely piece of driftwood, wave-tossed sea.

 We also tend to think of ourselves when we're young, as if WE are the star of a movie and it's all about us. All these other people in our lives were just supporting actors. Kids. Some of them never mature either. Sad.

The line in the song I heard yesterday goes like this:

"When the world was younger and you had everything to lose, you had everything to lose."

When we are younger and we don't know Jesus Jesus yet, we truly do have everything to lose. If we die in our sins without repenting of them and placing our faith in Christ, we most definitely have have lost everything - our hope for a future beyond this life. It's over period.

But if we DO repent, if we DO change our ways and become a follower of Jesus, we then have everything to gain. It seems like an easy choice, unless we're self-focused and narcissistic.

"39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 10:39

"3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." - Luke 15:3-7

Are there any lost sheep in your life? There are several in mine. SO, what am I waiting for? An engraved invitation? Jesus has already told us we should seek these people out and preach The Gospel to them. What are we waiting for? These people have everything to lose! Let us be about God's business . . . as long as it is called today.

This Is Your Life - Switchfoot - A Christian Skit